Process of manufacturing artificial coal from peat.



FREDERICK 0. TH. AD. OSIUS,OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

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No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, FREDERICK C. C. T H. An. Osrus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of lifichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Manufacturing Artificial Coal from Peat, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of manufacturing artificial coal from peat, the object being to provide a process by which ordinary peat or similar substances are converted into an artificial fuel which will have all of the advantages of anthracite coal.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a process by means of which the organic matter to be converted into fuel can be accomplished at very small cost, whereby the price of fuel will be small as compared to the cost of coal now being mined.

A further object of the invention is to provide an artificial fuel which, when burnt, may be used as a fertilizer, it being especially adapted for use in fertilizing flowers and vegetables.

In manufacturing artificial coal by means of my improved process, the peat is taken from the bed by any suitable means and subjected to a pressing operation which partially removes the moisture therefrom. By this means, as much moisture is removed from the peat as is possible, after which it is placed in a grinder and ground into a fine powder by any of the well known grinding machines now in use or the same may be shredded, the main object being to separate the fibers of the peatin order to allow the chemicals, later described, to have free action thereon. The peat previously ground or shredded is next subjected to a bath of sulfuric acid by sub-merging the peat in suitable vats containing the acid in which the peat is allowed to stand from twenty-four to forty-eight hours until the acid has thoroughly carbonized the fibers, The grinding of the peat before being subjected to the acid bath, is not essential, as, by allowing the peat to remain within the bath for a greater length of time, the organic matter will be carbonized and converted into a semiplastic state. The substance in the semiplastic state is then removed from the bath of sulfuric acid and placed in a pressfrom which the acid is forced so as to reclaim as much of the acid as is possible which may be used again, thereby decreasing the cost Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July as, ism.

Application filed April 22, 1911. Serial ar 622,786.

of manufacturing thefuel. The plastic substance 1s then sub ected to a thorough washing in water by submerging the same in suitable vats, through which running water passes, in order to free and remove as much of the [acid as 1s possible. The plastic substance is then removed from the vats and placed in any of the well known peat pressm machines now 1n use where it is molded into briquetsof any size desired, and afterv been subjected to the bath of water and while in the condition in which it leaves the press after the acid bath, it can be molded into briquets and then submerged in water to remove the acid therefrom, but I have i found by experiment that the acid is freed from the plastic substance more thoroughly before it has been molded.

From the foregoing description, it will'be seen that T have provided an artificial fuel which can be manufactured from peat whereby the peat will be converted into a highly efficient commercial fuel at a very low cost and have practically the same heating capacity as coal, the ashes of the fuel being adapted for use as a fertilizer.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The process of manufacturing artificial fuel from peat consisting in carbonizing the peat by the action of sulfuric acid into a semi-plastic state, and molding said semiplastic material 1nto briquets.

2. The process of manufacturing artificial fuel from peat consisting in first disintegrating the peat and then subjecting the separated particles to the action of sulfuric acid, to convert the peat into a semi-plastic state.

3. The process of manufacturing artificial fuel from organic matter consisting infirst separating the moisture therefrom, second in disintegrating the organic matter, then carbonizing the separated particles by the action of sulfuric acid, and then molding said peat when in a plastic state into briquets. 3

4. The process of manufacturing artificial fuel from organic matter consistingin first separating the moisture from the organic matter by pressing, then disintegratingsaid matter, then submerging said matter in sulfuric acid until it carbonized into a semipressing the matter to remove the moisture therefrom, then submerging the mass in sulfuric acid until it is converted into a semiplastic state, and pressing the sulfuric acid from said mass, then washing said mass, and then molding said semi-plastic mass into briquets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK C. G. TH. AD. OSIUS. Witnesses G. A. HILLs, CALLY M. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

